HSA Minutes – April 2024 Meeting Minutes

HSA Meeting 

April 19th, 2024, 9:00

Attendees: 15 in person, 8 online

 

Updates from Dr. Oates

 

Teacher Representative – Ms. Droske 

Kindergarten is working on writing personal narratives.  Students are starting to use punctuation and full sentences. They are also using phonetics to sound out words.  

 

Social Services Donations – Cake mix and icing.  Donations can be dropped off at the bins outside the front office.

 

DEI – The food acceptance campaign, “Don’t Yuck My Yum”,  continues with conversions in morning meetings and during read alouds.  Families are encouraged to submit their completed bingo boards to win a lunch with Ms Finegan and Dr. Oates.  

Rabbi Fabricant will be visiting students to talk to them about Passover.

 

School Improvements – The Zen Den has been completed and is a beautiful, restorative space for students and staff. Ms Pierro has done a great job incorporating softer lighting and casual furniture to create a calm space with several activities for students.

 

In the fall Somerville will be getting colorful new stair treads in the stairwells.

 

Staff News – 

Congratulations Mr. Dembin for winning Teacher of the Year at Somerville and to Dr. Kilby for winning for the district.  

 

Congratulations to Ms. Raffo who is expecting.

 

Deadline to sign the digital cards for Mr. Lupia and Ms. Ross is April 30th

 

Testing –  Students in grades 3-5 will be sitting for LinkIt testing next week.  These tests help teachers assess students’ current knowledge and help prepare students for state testing.  NJSLA testing begins the week of May 13th.  Please make sure your students are getting plenty of rest, having a good breakfast and feeling their best. Test results are mailed the following fall.. 

 

Parent Book Club – The parent book club will be reading Good Inside by Dr. Becky.  The book group will meet Thursday May 26th at 7pm in the Somerville Library and Friday 27th from 9-10am in room 208.  If you don’t have a chance to make it to book club, parents are still encouraged to read this book about the journey of parenting.  Please email Ms. Finnegan at kfinnegan@ridgewood.k12.nj.us if you plan to join us for coffee and conversation.

Advanced Math Testing for 5th Grade –  On May 2nd at 9am, fifth grade students will have the option to take an advanced math placement test.  A letter has gone out to parents so they can sign up.  Any student can take the test which will place them on a path to double accelerated math.  Very few students pass this test and it is designed to really challenge students’ knowledge above and beyond their grade level. Students who do not take or pass the test, but are still passionate about math, will still have the opportunity through another path to excel through math courses.  

 

Staff News – Several staff changes will take place this year so here is a breakdown of the grades.

K – Ms. Droske, Ms. Pia & Ms. Bielicky (move from 3rd grade)

1st – Ms. Middleton, Ms. Grippaldi (move from 5th grade) & Ms. Janowski

2nd – Ms. Kowalski, Ms. Kirk & Ms. Witham

3rd – Mr. Dembin, Ms. Foerch, Ms. Koropchak (move from 1st grade) and a 4th section taught by Ms. Lim who is coming to us from Travell.

4th – Ms. Calandra, Ms. Jensen (new) and Mr. Galeano (aka Mr. S)

5th – Ms. Kiernan (writing), Ms. Burke (math), Ms. Fischetti (reading)

Additionally Mr Vemus will provide maternity coverage for Ms. Vitale

 

Past Events

• Broadway Bound – March 21st – 5th graders saw Aladdin
• Holiday Docent Presentation – Ramadan & Eid – Friday March 22nd
• Spirit Week – March 18th – 22nd
• Spring Break – March 25th – April 1st
• No School – Eid – April 10th
• Earth Day – April 12th – Thank you to the Gargiulo family for their amazing donation of saplings for each student.
• Author Visit – John Parra (Grades K-2) – April 15th

Upcoming Events 

• • LinkIt Testing – April 22nd-24th
  • Author Visit (Virtual) – Chris Grabenstein (3-5) – April 23rd
  • Art Docent Day – April 24th
  • Parent Book Club – April 25th, 7pm in the Somerville Library
  • Parent Book Club – April 26th – 9-10am in Room 208
  • Third Grade Field Trip – April 26th – NY Botanical Gardens
  • Clothing Donation Drive – April 27th – Somerville parking lot – 9am – 12pm. Clothing, shoes and bedding are accepted.
  • Young Musicians Showcase – April 27th – 12pm: Elementary, 4pm: Middle School 

• Deadline to sign Ross and Lupia retirement Cards – April 30th

• International Day & Night – April 30th

• Somerville Squad Assembly – May 1st – Teachers will be give pins for every 5 years of teaching at Somerville
• Fourth Grade Recorder Performance at BF – May 2nd
• First Grade Field Trip – May 3rd – Paper Mill Playhouse
• Parent Spring Social – Saturday May 4th – Kentucky Derby Theme
• Teacher Appreciation Week – Starts May 6th
• Second Grade Field Trip – May 9th – Bronx Zoo
• NJSLA Testing Week – starts May 13th
• Scoop Night at Kilwins – May 22nd
• Rockland Boulders Game – June 20th

HSA Updates:

Parent Social  – The parent social will take place on May 4th.  The theme is the Kentucky Derby. 

Teacher Appreciation Week – Appreciation week week starts May 6th and class parents will be purchasing gifts with the collected class dues.  The committee will be distributing spa themed mailbox drops, coordinating a breakfast provided by K&1st grades, decorating the school with sidewalk chalk, providing a snack cart and much more!

Scoop Night – Scoop night will take place again this year at Kilwins.  May 22nd join Somerville families at Kilwins and Van Neste and see our celebrity (Somerville staff) scoopers. 

Boulders Game – June 20th join Somerville families at the Rockland Boulders game. Each ticket holder will also receive a Boulders hat. 

Next HSA Meeting will be on Friday, May 17th at 9am in room 208 and on zoom.